UW-L Splits Doubleheader with Nationally-Ranked UW-Eau Claire; Iwanski Wins Opener

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 21, 2008

La Crosse, Wis. – The UW-La Crosse softball team split a WIAC doubleheader with UW-Eau Claire Monday afternoon at North Campus Field. The Eagles snapped a six-game losing streak to the Blugolds in the opener, winning 4-3 in 8 innings. UW-Eau Claire, ranked 13th in NCAA Division III, came back to win the nightcap, 2-0.

UW-L is now 19-12 overall and 5-5 in the WIAC while UW-Eau Claire is 21-7 overall and 6-2 in the conference.

In game one, UW-Eau Claire tallied three times in the top of the first on three hits. Jill Janke had an RBI single to make it 1-0 while Michelle Butkus had a run-scoring double and Kristi Doucette a sacrifice fly. The Blugolds were held to three hits the remainder of the game. UW-L cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth on Liz Bradley’s double. The Eagles made it 3-2 in the fifth on Rachel Weyer’s fielder’s choice and tied it in the sixth on Bradley’s solo home run.

Weyer, Rachel Croak and Bradley opened the bottom of the eighth with singles before Sarah Pfeifer’s sacrifice fly to knock in Weyer with the winning run.

Jess Iwanski (4-0) earned the win for UW-L, going 8.0 innings, allowing six hits, three runs and three walks while striking out a season-high eight. Bradley was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored, double, home run and two RBI. Croak finished 2-for-4 with a run.

Bri Strum (5-4) suffered the loss, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned). Jenny Ross started for UW-Eau Claire, going 4.0 innings, allowing four hits and one run. Butkus and Ross both finished 2-for-4.

In the nightcap, Ross (12-0) earned the victory, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing four hits while striking out five. The Blugolds took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as Ross scored after an Eagles' fielding error. UW-Eau Claire added a run in the sixth on Doucette's RBI double.

UW-L put the tying runs on base in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but Ross got the final two outs to record the victory.

Heather Schultz (6-4) took the loss for the Eagles, going 6.0 innings, allowing eight hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk while striking out three. Weyer was 2-for-3.

UW-L returns to action Wednesday, April 23 at UW-Oshkosh in a doubleheader at 3 p.m.